There’s a reason it’s classified as firearm
Dear Editor:
With all due respect to Mr. Cooper, I feel that he himself has “missed the mark” with regards to the crossbow issue in Missouri.
Taking into account its long history and effectiveness as a weapon, the crossbow certainly has a place in the hunting community. The crux of the matter lies in the fact that once the crossbow is cocked, it remains ready to fire with absolutely no effort on the part of the hunter. This is a very important distinction in its classification as a firearm.
While no archer would begrudge a physical exemption permit to allow a truly disabled hunter to use a crossbow during archery season (there is an entirely separate and debatable argument as to what constitutes a handicap deserving of such a permit), we bowhunters cringe at the thought of the retail-based campaign to include crossbows in our archery seasons.
Want to use a crossbow to hunt deer? You are as welcome to share the woods during firearms deer season as the shotgunner the black-powder enthusiast (modern in-line or traditional percussion or flintlock), the hand-gunner, and archers like myself, who choose to carry our bows under the firearms permit.
Brian Peterson
Cedarcreek, MO
